Waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment

ABSTRACT

A waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment includes a rotary joint, a connector, a rotating shaft, a turning block, an upper arm, and a position unit. A lifting rod rotates around the connector to adjust the distance from the wall. An upper-arm rotates around the rotating shaft and a shower head rotates with upper-arm accordingly for persons with different height.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a waterway adapter, and more particularly to a waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment and a lifter for the adapter.

2. Description of Related Art

In the shower room a lift rod is usually installed on the wall. There are many types of lifting rods in use for positioning water pipe on the wall. The hand-held shower head is placed in a lifting rod on a carriage. Typically, the lifting rod is fixed to the wall by drilling, and you must drill a hole in the wall and adjust the angle of the lifting rod. Although it is not difficult to drill holes on the walls, it is very inconvenient to rely on professional tools.

The China Patent Application No. 200920137854.9 discloses a drill-free lifting bar for showerhead. The lower part of the lifting bar is fixed on a wall surface via drill-free mechanism; and the water flow connection device and the water supply pipe are connected in a universal joint. The drill-free mechanism and the lifting rod are connected in a universal joint as well. However, the works of shower room are differences, it will appear the length between the outlet pipe and the wall is different. The lifting bar is mounted on the wall, and the length from the lifting bar to the wall will be difference. Resulting in the installation of the lifting bar is difficult, and some even cannot be installed. Especially, the showerhead on the top of the lifting bar is unable to change the spray direction.

In view of the foregoing, a need exists in the art for a waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment. In addition, a need exists for such a waterway adapter to be fixed well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, a waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment is provided having various aspects addressed to overcome the shortcomings in prior lifting bar and shower head discussed above and provide certain other advantages.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment to increase the strength of shower head, for improving the efficiency and convenient of operation.

The next objective of the present invention is to provide a waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment to adjust the angle and position of shower head for various people with different height.

In order to accomplish the above objective, the waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment comprises: a rotary joint having a hollow body portion connecting to a water source, an axial first through hole, a longitudinally disposed recess, a first inlet and a first outlet connecting to the first inlet; a connector positioned in the recess, comprising an axial second through hole to connect to the first through hole, a second inlet and a second outlet separated from the second inlet, wherein the second inlet is connected to the first outlet, and the connector fixes to a lifting rod; a gasket having a hole and positioned between the second inlet and the first outlet for preventing a flow of the liquid; a rotating shaft passing through the first through hole and the second through hole from one side of the connector to position the rotary joint and the connector for the connector rotating around the rotating shaft with the lifting rod, wherein the rotating shaft has a water chamber to connect with a third inlet and a third outlet, and the third inlet is connected to the second outlet for water conduction; a turning block fitting into the rotary joint from another side of the rotating shaft to rotate around the rotating shaft, and having an adjustment element combining with the rotary joint; an upper-arm having a rotary portion fitting into the turning block from another side of the rotating shaft to rotate around the rotating shaft with the turning block, the rotary portion having a fourth inlet and a fourth outlet connected to the fourth inlet internally, the fourth inlet connected to the third outlet, and fourth outlet connected to the water outlet, wherein a plastic ring is placed between the rotary portion and the turning block; and a position unit entering into the rotating shaft from outside of the rotary portion for binding the rotary joint, the connector, the rotating shaft, the turning block, and the upper-arm together on axial direction.

Furthermore, the invention of waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment has following advantages:

(1) The waterway adapter is equipped with the rotary joint instead of universal joint. After the lifter is installed, the waterway adapter has more stable structure without vibration in working.

(2) The lifting rod rotating around the connector to adjust the distance from the wall has the novel structure and is easy to use.

(3) The upper-arm may rotate around the rotating shaft, and the shower head rotates with upper-arm accordingly for persons with different height.

Therefore, the design of the waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment is non-obvious and sufficiently inventive, and reflects a same general patentability requirement. It is noted that the present invention has the advantages that the invention provides a convenient instrument for showering and makes practical progress on the field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the waterway adapter of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the waterway adapter of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the waterway adapter of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the waterway adapter of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the waterway adapter of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 6-9 are perspective views of the waterway adapter with the lift rod of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, applications, or uses. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the following description is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, which may be applied in various ways to provide many different alternative embodiments.

FIGS. 1 to 5 are illustrations of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. There is shown the waterway adapter including a rotary joint 1, a connector 2, a gasket 3, a rotating shaft 4, a turning block 5, an upper arm 14 and a positioning unit 8.

The rotary joint 1 includes: a hollow body portion connecting to a water source, an axial first through hole 1-1, a longitudinally disposed recess 1-2, a first inlet 1-3, and a first outlet 1-4 connected to the first inlet 1-3. In one embodiment, the rotary joint 1 is a T tubular joint. The first inlet 1-3 is connected to the water source and the first outlet 1-4 is connected to the recess 1-2 which has a first end 1-5 with a convex boss 1-8 and a second end 1-6 formed with a ring groove having a saw-toothed structure 1-7 on the bottom thereof.

The connector 2 is positioned in the recess 1-2 and has an axial second through hole 2-1 to connect to the first through hole 1-1. The connector 2 fixing a lifting rod 9 also has a second inlet 2-2 and a second outlet 2-3 separated from the second inlet 2-2 which is connected to the first outlet 1-4. The connector 2 has one end with ring structure having the second through hole 2-1 and another end forming a first tube portion 2-4 and a second tube portion 2-5. The ring structure is positioned in the recess 1-2 and the outer edge of the ring structure having the second inlet 2-2 with ring groove connecting to the first tube portion 2-4. The inner arm of the ring structure has the second outlet 2-3 connected to the second tube portion 2-5, and the second inlet 2-2 is connected to the first outlet 1-4.

The gasket 3 is positioned between the second inlet 2-2 and the first outlet 1-4 for preventing a flow of the liquid. In one embodiment, the gasket 3 is an eye gasket withstanding the second inlet 2-2 to seal the connection with the first outlet 1-4. The eye gasket has the hole 3-1 for water passage, and two convex bosses 1-8 on the eye gasket have two springs 3-2 respectively for avoiding low pressure leaking from the connection.

The rotating shaft 4 passes through the first through hole 1-1 and the second through hole 2-1 from one side of the connector 2 to position the rotary joint 1 and the connector 2. Thus, the connector 2 and the lifting rod 9 rotating around the rotating shaft 4 with the lifting rod. The rotating shaft 4 has a water chamber 4-1 to connect with a third inlet 4-2 and a third outlet 4-3, and the third inlet 4-3 is connected to the second outlet 2-3 for water conduction. Furthermore, the rotating shaft 4 passes through the first through hole 1-1 and the second through hole 2-1 of the hollow body portion and is formed a groove on one end to contain convex boss 1-8, which has the water chamber 4-1 internally connecting to the third inlet 4-2 and the third outlet 4-3, and the third inlet 4-2 is connected to the second outlet 2-3 of the connector 2 for water passage.

The turning block 5 fits into the rotary joint 1 from another side of the rotating shaft 4 to rotate around the rotating shaft 4, and has an adjustment element combining with the rotary joint 1. The turning block 5 has a ring structure and its one side forms a serration 5-1 to fit into the saw-toothed structure 1-7 of the rotary joint 1 from another side of the rotating shaft 4 for rotating around the rotating shaft 4 with multi-angle adjustment.

The upper-arm 14 has a rotary portion 6 fits into the turning block 5 from another side of the rotating shaft 4 to rotate around the rotating shaft 4 with the turning block 5. The rotary portion 6 has a fourth inlet 6-1 and a fourth outlet 6-2 connected to the fourth inlet 5-1 internally. The fourth inlet 6-1 and fourth outlet 6-2 are connected to the third outlet 4-2 and the water outlet, respectively. The rotary portion 6 has one closed end with ring groove thereon. The outer of the rotary portion 6 fixes to the turning block 5, and the inner of the rotary portion 6 holds the rotating shaft 4. Furthermore, the inner space of the rotary portion 6 forms a connection of the fourth inlet 6-1 and the third outlet 4-3. A plastic ring 7 is placed between the rotary portion 6 and the turning block 5, and the fourth outlet 6-2 is connected to the water outlet.

The positioning unit 8 is a position pin put into the rotating shaft 4 from outside of the rotary portion 6 for binding the rotary joint 1, the connector 2, the rotating shaft 4, the turning block 5, and the upper-arm 14 together on axial direction.

Accordingly, one lid 10 is located on the outside of the rotary joint 1, and another lid is located on the outside of the rotary portion 6 for securing the rotary joint 1 and the rotary portion 6. The connector 2 is configured to bind to rotary joint 1 with a slot, and a bolt 11 passes through the slot for limiting rotating angle of the connector 2 around the rotary joint 1.

The invention is installed on a lifter, which includes: a lifting rod 9, a bending portion 13 and an upper-arm 14. The lifting rod 9 has a first flexible tube 9-1 and a second flexible tube 9-2 abutting to the first tube portion 2-4 and the second tube portion 2-5 respectively. Both flexible tubes connected to a water separator 12. The bending portion 13 has a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end located on a wall to conduct a water source and the proximal end equipped with the rotary joint 1. The upper-arm 14 has a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end equipped with a a rotary portion 6 to connect to the bending portion 13 to receive water and the proximal end equipped with a shower head 15 for water output.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 9, in installing the waterway adapter, the angle of the lifter installation is controlled by adjusting the lifting rod 9 to the connector to rotate around the rotating shaft. Due to the position pin limiting the rotating angle, the connector may rotate about 8 degree to both left and right direction. For adjusting the angle of the shower head 15, it is easy to hold the upper-arm 14 moving the turning block to rotate around the rotating shaft to a well position. The serration on the turning block gears the saw-toothed structure in the rotary joint.

Accordingly, the water flows from the up-bend portion 13 to the first inlet of the rotary joint, through the first outlet, entering into the first tube portion. After the water separator 12, the water goes through the second tube portion entering into the rotating shaft. Due to the third outlet is connected to the fourth inlet of the upper arm, the water reaches the shower head 15 through the upper arm 14.

From the above description, the invention of waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment is equipped with the rotary joint instead of universal joint. After the lifter is installed, the waterway adapter has more stable structure without vibration in working. The lifting rod may rotate around the connector to adjust the distance from the wall as installed and modified. The upper-arm may rotate around the rotating shaft, and the shower head rotates with upper-arm accordingly for persons with different height. The invention has the novel structure and is easy to use. The output volume of water is higher.

The invention is non-obvious and sufficiently inventive, and reflects a same general patentability requirement. It is noted that the present invention has the advantages that the invention provides a convenient instrument for showering and makes practical progress on the field.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment, comprising: a rotary joint having a hollow body portion connecting to a water source, an axial first through hole, a longitudinally disposed recess, a first inlet and a first outlet connecting to the first inlet; a connector positioned in the recess, comprising an axial second through hole to connect to the first through hole, a second inlet and a second outlet separated from the second inlet, wherein the second inlet is connected to the first outlet, and the connector fixes to a lifting rod; a gasket having a hole and positioned between the second inlet and the first outlet for preventing a flow of the liquid; a rotating shaft passing through the first through hole and the second through hole from one side of the connector to position the rotary joint and the connector for the connector rotating around the rotating shaft with the lifting rod, wherein the rotating shaft has a water chamber to connect with a third inlet and a third outlet, and the third inlet is connected to the second outlet for water conduction; a turning block fitting into the rotary joint from another side of the rotating shaft to rotate around the rotating shaft, and having an adjustment element combining with the rotary joint; an upper-arm having a rotary portion fitting into the turning block from another side of the rotating shaft to rotate around the rotating shaft with the turning block, the rotary portion having a fourth inlet and a fourth outlet connected to the fourth inlet internally, the fourth inlet connected to the third outlet, and fourth outlet connected to the water outlet, wherein a plastic ring is placed between the rotary portion and the turning block; and a position unit entering into the rotating shaft from outside of the rotary portion for binding the rotary joint, the connector, the rotating shaft, the turning block, and the upper-arm together on axial direction.
 2. The waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary joint is a T tubular joint comprising: the first through hole and a longitudinally disposed recess, the first inlet connected to the water source, and the first outlet connected to the recess having a first end with a convex boss and a second end formed with a ring groove having a saw-toothed structure on the bottom thereof.
 3. The waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connector has one end with ring structure having the second through hole and another end forming a first tube portion and a second tube portion, the ring structure positioned in the recess and the outer edge of the ring structure having the second inlet with ring groove connected to the first tube portion, the inner arm of the ring structure having the second outlet connected to the second tube portion, and the second inlet connected to the first outlet.
 4. The waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gasket is an eye gasket withstanding the second inlet to seal the connection with the first outlet and having the hole for water passage; and two convex bosses on the eye gasket have two springs respectively for avoiding low pressure leaking from the connection.
 5. The waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotating shaft passing through the first through hole and the second through hole of the hollow body portion is formed a groove on one end to contain convex bosses, and has the water chamber internally connecting to the third outlet and the third inlet which is connected to the second outlet of the connector for water flow.
 6. The waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the turning block is ring structure with two sides, one side forming a serration to gear the saw-toothed structure of the rotary joint from another side of the rotating shaft for rotating around the rotating shaft with multi-angle adjustment.
 7. The waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rotary portion has one closed end with ring groove thereon, and the outer of the rotary portion fixes to the turning block and the inner of the rotary portion holds the rotating shaft to form an inner space for a connection of the fourth inlet and the third outlet.
 8. The waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plastic ring is placed between the rotary portion and the turning block, and the fourth outlet is connected to the water outlet.
 9. The waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the position unit is a position pin entering the rotating shaft from outside of the rotary portion for binding the rotary joint, the connector, the rotating shaft, the turning block, and the upper arm together.
 10. The waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment as claimed in claim 1, further including a lid located on the outside of the rotary joint, and a lid located on the outside of the rotary portion for securing the rotary joint and the upper-arm respectively.
 11. The waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the connector is configured to bind to the rotary joint with a slot, and a bolt passes through the slot for limiting rotating angle of the connector around the rotary joint.
 12. A lifter for a waterway adapter with multi-angle adjustment, comprising: a lifting rod having a first flexible tube abutting to the first tube portion and a second flexible tube abutting to the second tube portion, both flexible tubes connected to a water separator; an bending portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end located on a wall to conduct a water source and the proximal end equipped with a rotary joint to connect to the lifting rod; and an upper-arm connected to the lifting rod and having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end equipped with a rotary portion to connect to the bending portion to receive water and the proximal end equipped with a shower head for water output. 